Canyon High School choir earned 33 first division solo ratings and 32 first division ensemble ratings at the Solo and Ensemble competition Saturday, Feb. 18.

Class one solos and ensembles qualify for the state level of competition if they receive a first division rating. Of the ensemble groups, four will go on to the state competition, as well as 18 soloists. As long as there are no conflicts with graduation, qualifiers will go to state at the end of May.

“The music must come from the prescribed music list and is classified as a class 1, 2 or 3,” head choir director Brandon Farren said. “Class 1 is the most difficult. The student will prepare and then perform the music memorized and with accompaniment for a judge. The judge will award a score based upon the performance, this is called a division rating.”

The division rating is a one through five grading scale, with one being the best. If a student receives a one and is singing a class one solo, he or she will advance to state.

“The judges take into consideration several factors when scoring–musical phrase, pitch intonation, language pronunciation, posture and presentation, dynamic contrast,” Farren said.

Farren said it is the students’ responsibility to learn and memorize their songs on their own, but two weeks before the contest, students are given time to rehearse with their accompanists at least twice.

“It’s stressful whenever you get started,” junior Charity Levens said. “Once you start getting the music, I feel like it’s more rewarding because you did all the work yourself.”

Levens said she felt proud of how well Canyon did.

“I saw how many ones we had, and we didn’t get any threes,” Levens said. “I am happy I could help with our score and keeping up the tradition.”

Farren said Canyon High School had the best results of any school district in the region.

“This gives students the opportunity to realize and put into practice an ‘outside of class’ rehearsal habit,” Farren said. “If a student expects to become an accomplished musician, there has to be hours put into that practice and music everyday. Solo and Ensemble helps students to realize the potential each of them has to work and study on their own.”